Welcome

Welcome! This website introduces you to the Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, a free-standing Ph.D. training program at the University of Michigan. As a pioneering interdisciplinary program, we train graduate students in cutting-edge research, preparing them for careers in academia, biotechnology and other research-related fields. CMB is an interdisciplinary program within the Rackham School of Graduate Studies and is supported by Rackham and the University of Michigan Medical School.

CMB trainees follow an interdisciplinary course of preparation not available in most departmental settings. Over one hundred faculty members from twenty-three different Departments in the Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Engineering, Dentistry, and the College of Literature, Arts and Sciences participate in CMB, involving life science units from Biophysics to Oncology. Diverse CMB faculty interests offer students opportunities to train in an array of interdisciplinary areas including:

• Cell and Systems Biology and Cell Physiology
• Biochemistry and Structural Biology
• Genetics/Gene Regulation and Genomics/Proteomics-
• Microbial Pathogenesis
• Development, Aging and Neurobiology
• Molecular Mechanisms of Disease and Cancer Biology

The CMB Program provides trainees with unique opportunities not only to focus in one specialized area of research, but also to think broadly about research problems in a collaborative atmosphere. As a result, a major advantage of the CMB Program is that it allows students maximum flexibility in their training programs. Students can explore multiple research areas in the first year while tailoring coursework to specialize in any of the subdisciplines represented by the member Departments, eventually working in fields as diverse as stem cells or X-ray crystallography.

The University of Michigan is an exceptional environment for the CMB Program. National surveys consistently rank the University's many professional schools among the top 10 in the United States. The University of Michigan is also one of the premier research institutions in the country, ranking in the top five public universities in federally funded research. The University continues to make long-term commitments to the future of life science research, with recent construction projects establishing the Life Sciences Institute, the landmark Biomedical Sciences Research Building, and a new research tower dedicated to Vision and Diabetes Research. The University's integration into the city of Ann Arbor also provides a relaxed, yet cosmopolitan atmosphere, rich in cultural and artistic opportunities and ethnic diversity.

This website will provide you with more information about the Cellular and Molecular Biology Doctoral Training Program, the research interests of our faculty, and the University setting. For graduate admissions, CMB has joined with twelve other graduate programs here to form the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS). PIBS allows students to choose any of the thirteen participating programs once they are admitted. Detailed instructions for applying are provided at the PIBS website; please also feel free to call the CMB Program Administrator at (734) 764-5428 with any questions you might have.

Sincerely,

Jessica Schwartz
CMB Director